Justice as an actor, an action, and a consequence

One of my favorite class discussions so far this semester was about the actor, the action, and the consequence. Most decisions have the ability to have an actor, an action, and a consequence. The more I learn and explore about justice, specifically related to Plato, I discover that justice can the actor, the action, and the consequence.


Justice can be an actor. Justice plays a part and takes part in some affairs. The situations that justice takes part in would make it the actor. Justice, as an actor, can be a driving factor in moral situations. The majority of the time, justice is a vital role in situations. "The act of being just" is the standard way of thinking about the word justice. A person makes a conscience decision to either act justly or unjustly. The action of being just takes effort and a moral conscience. Considering that you must make a decision about being just, it is an action. Finally, justice also serves as a consequence. Most of the time, justice is a consequence for an action. This action does not always have to be negative, but in certain situations justice can be a consequence for an immoral or illegal action. For example, if a person robs a bank they will be committing both an immoral and an illegal action. In some cases, their punishment, or consequence, will be justice. The criminal could receive jail time, which to society means that "justice was served."


Plato thinks about justice in a concrete manner: through definitions and other people's opinions. When one thinks of justice as an actor, an action, and a consequence it allows us to think about the concept in an abstract way. I think Plato could have benefitting in his understanding of justice by thinking about it in this way.